This is a Christian blog dealing with various issues. “Discernment is not simply a matter of telling the difference between what is right and wrong; rather it is the difference between right and almost right.” -Charles Spurgeon. Scripture is my authority for all things regarding to life and godliness. 2 Cor. 10: 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

LifeSiteNews reports:"Riverside, California, January 16, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Seventh-day Adventist website ADvindicate has recently drawn attention to the fact that La Sierra University has named a new economics centre after abortionist and gambling magnate Edward C. Allred, who in 1980 claimed to have personally aborted a quarter of a million babies in twelve years."~ For the entire article go here.

Go here for information of why the SDA is not a biblical Christian church.

Monday, January 28, 2013

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who
for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame!" Hebrews 12:2

"In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice. In the morning I will
order my prayer to You and look up!" Psalm 5:3

This is a wonderful secret which all of us ought to
learn: We should not think so much about the toil and hardness of the
way--but to look beyond to the brightness of the end! It
does not matter how rough the road is--if only it brings us HOME at last!

Many of us go worrying all through this life, keeping our eyes always
downcast on the path we are treading. We see all the troubles, the
difficulties, and discouragements--but we never raise our eyes to see the joys
and the eternal blessings which are waiting for us.We ought to learn this
life-secret, which made Christ look past the shame and sorrow of His cross--and
see the glory beyond. Learn to look up toward Heaven! Think of its joys
and its blessedness--until earth's trials shall melt away in the brightness, and
its griefs and losses are forgotten in the hopes of eternal
glory!

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting
away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary
troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So
we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is
seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal!" 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also
eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the
body of our humble condition--into the likeness of His glorious body!"
Philippians 3:20-21

“Just as the sinner's despair of any hope from himself is the first prerequisite of a sound conversion, so the loss of all confidence in himself is the first essential in the believer's growth in grace.”

‎"My thinking, if I believe that Jesus is the Lord, must be governed entirely by the Bible. In other words, I am not governed by modern thought. If I am governed by that, then Jesus is not the Lord of my intellect. So I cannot be governed by modern thought or by recent knowledge or by the latest discoveries of science. The moment I begin to be governed by those things, then Jesus is no longer Lord to me. I am putting myself in a superior position. I am making myself the lord."

~Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Romans - Saving Faith)Col 2:2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself,

3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4 I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.

Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of
wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Col 2:8See to it that no one takes
you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition,
according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Psa 1:1Blessed is the man who walks not in the
counsel of the wicked,nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat
of scoffers; 2
but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates
day and night.

2Co 10:5 We destroy
arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and
take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world,but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

‎"Beware, I pray thee, of presuming that thou art saved. If thy heart be renewed, if thou shalt hate the things that thou didst once love, and love the things that thou didst once hate; if thou hast really repented; if there be a thorough change of mind in thee; if thou be born again, then hast thou reason to rejoice: but if there be no vital change, no inward godliness; if there be no love to God, no prayer, no work of the Holy Spirit, then thy saying "I am saved" is but thine own assertion, and it may delude, but it will not deliver thee."

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

God’s Word is true. And if something does not line up with
God’s Word, it is not true. And it is not additional truth.

You see, many of you... let me ask you a
question.You would possibly
say, “Yes, brother Paul, I believe in the inspiration of Scripture. I am a
conservative Christian. I believe in the inspiration of Scripture, that Scripture was God breathed, that it is
infallible, inerrant.It is a faithful communication of God’s truth. Ok. You believe in the inspiration of Scripture.
You have only won half the battle.Here is the next question.But do you believe in the sufficiency of Scripture? Do you
believe that the Scripture is sufficient to make the man of God adequate for
every good work or does the man of God also need Freud, Skinner, Rogers
and everything else in order to counsel God’s people, in order to train God’s
people?

You see, this is what Scripture is saying. This
is what it is saying.

All Scripture is inspired by God and
profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in
righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good
work.

Every good work that needs to be done in the body,
every good work, the Scripture can adequately prepare us for that. Everything
the Bible says in 2 Timothy chapter one, 2 Peter chapter one, everything that
we need for life and godliness has been granted to us.

Everything we need to direct our marriages have
been granted to us in this book. Everything we need to raise our children have
been granted to us in this book. It is found there. It is. You have to make a
decision. Do you want a biblical church or do you want a halfway biblical
church?

~Paul Washer

This is exactly what I believe
and what every biblical Christian must believe.

ONLY in Christ Jesus is the treasure of all wisdom and
knowledge--nowhere else:

Col 2:2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been
knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full
assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery,
that is, Christ Himself,

Col 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom
and knowledge.

Col 2:4 I say this so that no one will delude you with
persuasive argument.

Col 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through
philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to
the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

Col 2:9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in
bodily form,

Col 2:10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He
is the head over all rule and authority;

J. Gresham Machen, the foremost defender of fundamentalism in the modernist controversy of the past century, also led the battle against compulsory public education. A fierce libertarian, Machen cautioned, “If you give the bureaucrats the children, you might as well give them everything else as well.”

We have. See election 2012.

Unless socialization means sassing their parents, as confirmed by Dr. Larry Shyers, homeschooled children exhibit significantly less behavioral problems than other students. Public schools nurture self-esteem. Homeschooling cultivates character allowing children to flourish into responsible citizens. Moreover, Dr. Ray concludes adults taught at home retained their parent’s worldviews far more frequently than peers. Students learning at home absorb much less liberal cant.

Homeschooled kids don’t lack socialization . . . but socialism.

Some parents simply prioritize getting our children into Heaven over getting them into Harvard. Forging godly character, precept upon precept, surpasses SAT scores in importance.But homeschooled children suffer no discernible academic handicap.

Monday, January 14, 2013

A personal acquaintance with a famous teacher doesn't give anymore discernment than a third party. In fact, most will defend their "friend" although in grave error, giving the little caveat of not agreeing 100% with what he teaches (as if that's ever possible). What gives discernment is the Spirit of Truth, through training in the Word of Truth. The closer a person is to someone in error, the less inclined they are to confront him. Especially if they are famous.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

‎"If the Biblical Jesus Christ were to rebuke your favorite theologian, favorite denomination, favorite politician, or favorite sin, would you forsake all and follow Him? Or would you cling to what you "feel" is right in the face of Truth and be as the rich young ruler who turned from Christ. Or the throngs of people who only wanted a Christ to vanquish their enemies, feed them unlimited fish and bread and not dare crush them and their sin?"

Thursday, January 10, 2013

“If the professed convert distinctly and deliberately declares that he knows the Lord’s will but does not mean to attend to it, you are not to pamper his presumption, but it is your duty to assure him that he is not saved. Do not suppose that the Gospel is magnified or God glorified by going to the worldlings and telling them that they may be saved at this moment by simply accepting Christ as their Savior, while they are wedded to their idols, and their hearts are still in love with sin. If I do so I tell them a lie, pervert the Gospel , insult Christ, and turn the grace of God into lasciviousness.” ~CH Spurgeon

Tuesday, January 08, 2013

New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is a Word of Faith/Pentecostal/Latter Rain movement that seeks to take dominion over the world by getting a majority of people to have a particular worldview. As herescope reports:

"Using a marketing model, [Peter] Wagner said he is looking for a critical mass in the pervasiveness of the "Christian faith," and for a key placement of individuals to "influence" society as an indicator of kingdom growth:

We believe that through the Christian faith, the blessings of heaven will come down upon whatever people accepts that. Now, that doesn't mean every Japanese has to become a Christian. But that means that the Christian faith - we're looking for the Christian faith to grow in Japan to a point where it has some influence on society, which right now it doesn't.

[all emphases added]"

NAR and Wagner and its leaders (see the list at Sola Sisters) deny the absolute sufficiency and authority of Scripture. They believe that by influencing every area (as they see it) of society, it will bring Jesus down to earth (hence their "7 Mountains" of influence they seek to take dominion over including politics (think Rick Perry)).

The NAR teaches that, through the advancement of medicine, science, technology and the gospel, this world is getting better and better. That through strategically "capturing" each of the designated "mountains," we will set up Jesus' earthly kingdom, and that once we have accomplished this, Jesus will return as the glittering jewel in the crown of his earthly kingdom. But is this true? Is this what the Bible teaches? Let us let Scripture lead us on the matter of Jesus' kingdom:

"Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.'" (John 18:36, my emphasis)

End quote.

According to Herescope, in an interview on NPR, Peter Wagner now rejects the Rapture and the Tribulation. Instead they hold to the wrong and unbiblical notion that things in this world will be getting better, not worse. This goes against entire chapters and books in Scripture like Jude, 2 Peter 2-3, 2Thes. 2; various portions of Isaiah, and of course, Revelation.

2Ti 3:1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2Ti 3:2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
2Ti 3:4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
2Ti 3:5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

2Ti 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

2Pe 3:5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
2Pe 3:6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.
2Pe 3:7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

2Pe 3:11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!

Wagner's eschatology is also based on marketing's "critical mass" theory -- he believes that when they (his NAR) "restore" this "kingdom" and enforce "his will be done on earth" that then the paradigm will shift. He says "when that happens enough, Jesus will return."This is parallel to the esoteric (New Age) idea that there will be a cosmic spiritual shift where man becomes a co-creator in his own destiny, and a co-redeemer of the planet earth...In a recent report by Sandy Simpson of the Apologetic Coordination Team, titled "A Tale Of Two Kingdoms," he explains the paradigm shift of Wagner's kingdom social gospel :Biblical Christians need to understand that many of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), Emergent Church, Church Growth, Word of Faith and other related movements are operating under a paradigm shift. Because of that when they use the word "kingdom" they do not have the same biblical concept of that word that biblical Christians do.

End quote.More about Dominionism (along with links to names like Tim Keller, Leonard Sweet, and David Barton) here. Another concern is the occult aspect of this movement (think: personal psychic readings aka "personal prophetic word"), along with the "signs", "wonders", "prophets", "apostles" and their "authority" over people not in their own churches.

Monday, January 07, 2013

Here's a report about the under-reporting of psychotropic drugs and the Sandy Hook elementary school massacre, along with several other similiar murders connected with these drugs.

"But where, I’d like to ask my colleagues in the media, is the reporting about the psychiatric medications the perpetrator – who had been under treatment for mental-health problems – may have been taking? After all, Mark and Louise Tambascio, family friends of the shooter and his mother, were interviewed on CBS’ “60 Minutes,” during which Louise Tambascio told correspondent Scott Pelley: “I know he was on medication and everything, but she homeschooled him at home cause he couldn’t deal with the school classes sometimes, so she just homeschooled Adam at home. And that was her life.” And here, Tambascio tells ABC News, “I knew he was on medication, but that’s all I know.”"~More at Worldnetdaily

The writer goes on and lists eleven shootings where the shooter was either on psych drugs or just coming off of them.

Its time to stop the drugging of the minds of people and to get away from psychiatry and psychology--none of which is helpful nor beneficial, but most definitely harmful, the MOST of which is spiritually. The ONLY solution for one's most severest problems with the mind/heart/emotions/life IS Jesus Christ and His Gospel. He who is Creator and has revealed the Truth to us in Scripture, has told us what the truth is about our disposition, sin, failures, and its results and destiny. He also has revealed the solution, the healing, the comfort and the peace for those who humbly come to Him on His terms, understanding their total depravity and His deity and that He alone is the ONLY Way, Truth, and Life and that outside of Him there is no hope, no God, no way to the Father, no eternal life, no solution to life's problems.

Saturday, January 05, 2013

""If you entice people with wealth, ... ease, health, chipper, bouncy, light-hearted, playful, superficial banter in your worship service posing as joy in Christ, you will attract people, oh yeah, you can grow a huge church that way. But Christ will not be seen in his glory and the Christian life will not be seen as the calvary road that it is," said Piper on Sunday."

However, the following week John Piper spoke at Passion 2013 that offered Charismatic/WOF teachers and one of their bands, "Jesus" Culture.

Further reported: "In his last official message, Piper wanted to convey to the congregation "what the world needs from the church."What it needs, he preached, is "our indomitable, invincible joy in the midst of suffering and sorrow."

Really? I thought the world needed to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ which is both the bad news (personal & imputed sin, offending the thrice holy God) as well as the Good News (repent, turn to the Jesus of Scripture, trust solely in the Person and work of Jesus Christ for salvation and forgiveness of all of one's sins or else face His eternal wrath in eternal punishment).

Friday, January 04, 2013

Here's an article challenging infamous ex-pastor and constant conference speaker and writer, John Piper's tagline "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisified in Him".

A Creed of Men

In recent years a new creed has become a mantra within the Christian world. Recently I found this creed quoted on about 100 web sites. The creed, coined by a popular contemporary author who publicly embraces a quirky mix of modern "signs and wonders" and Calvinism, is this:

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."

Dr. John Piper, author of Desiring God--Meditations of a Christian Hedonist, wrote this creed (page 50) and now uses it on some of his published material much as one would use a logo or a motto.

Having a logo or a motto is of no concern. But in recent years many pastors and churches have adopted this expression in much the same way a doctrinal creed is embraced. The problem? This creed is not biblical, it is not scriptural, it is not traditional, in fact, it is not even logical. It is nothing more than a newly invented precept of men. (Matthew 15:9, Mark 7:7)......

Below is an excerpt from an article by Mark at Defending Contending. You can read the full article here.

Here is the excerpt from Def-Con regarding John Piper at the Passion 2013 Conference:

His endorsements are wrong, and I have not seen one thing that convinces me that he is preaching at Passion 2013 with the intention of bringing biblical clarity to the thousands who are gathered. Actually, he now openly endorses the ungodliness that is in place, holds hands with Beth Moore, and has even been captured on video practicing contemplative mysticism! This certainly does bring him into question and at this time, I believe we are only left with two conclusions. First, his lack of discernment continues to drive him down the road towards full-blown apostasy at the expense of biblical truth. Second, while I am not prepared to question whether he has ever come to a point of saving faith, I am prepared to learn from the words of John MacArthur, who has in the past noted that a person who evidences no change, has no fruit, and continues in full-blown apostasy must be concerned as to whether they were ever saved to begin with.

Sadly, the problem is compounded by the inclusion of heretics like Judah Smith, who co-pastors a church with his wife in Washington. His connection includes preaching at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church and Mark Driscoll fully endorsed this event. Yes, this is the same Driscoll and Warren that are so openly welcomed and share pulpits with John Piper. These men all have the same thing in common – they are students of humanist authors like Peter Drucker, who died as a heathen pagan – without Christ.

End quote. (italics and bold, original; red is mine)

2Jn 1:9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

Mat 7:15 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits. 21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

As someone once said, foliage is not fruit. It may appear like it, it may show signs of "growth", but foliage isn't fruit. A weed has life and grows but is useless and in fact harms the plants around it, stealing needed nutrients for its own useless purpose of survival. Be careful when looking at the "past" to find "good fruit" because what is in appearance might actually be anything BUT true fruit.

Wednesday, January 02, 2013

As my friend noted, "It is more important than ever to teach our kids doctrine. It is becoming more apparent that we are in the last days. "Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons" 1 Timothy 4:1"

"Do you know youth currently attending Atlanta's Passion 2013 conference (Jan 1-4)? Passion leader John Piper wants to introduce youth to the Jesus Culture band (which is part of the signs n'wonders crowd) and Judah Smith (whose wife is an ordained pastor in rebellion to God's word which states that women are not to teach men). Still think it's okay? Check out what the Jesus Culture could be introducing your youth to." ~ Noted Christine Blackerby (Sola Sisters)

For more information on Passion 2013 and its promotion of false teachers and teachings, go to Apprising Ministries.

"Today, over fifty years later, we can see the devastating consequences of neo-evangelicalism’s accommodation to the culture. Neo-evangelicalism has thoroughly embraced many worldly philosophies and practices. The recent phenomenon of “post-modern” evangelicalism, which merges neo-paganism with neo-evangelicalism (e.g., the Emergent Church) is an indication of how far this “repudiation of separation” has come. The rapid rise of the Neo-Calvinist movement illustrates the extent to which this "infiltration" will go, as they seek to bridge the divide between church and society, even to the point of Dominionism. The infiltration strategy is also evident in the popular mystical postmodern philosophies of Leonard Sweet, Dallas Willard, Jay Gary, Larry Crabb, Richard Foster and many others. Infiltration as the accepted new status quo in evangelicaldom has rapidly reached into the most remote corners of the Christian world, especially via the neoevangelical mass media."

"It seems quite obvious that a “repudiation of separation” is a clever technique to dislodge the church from its first love. Adopting a strategy of infiltration serves as the first necessary step to break down the church’s ability to function as “salt” and “light” in a dark and lost world."

‎"Biblical separation is much more than the physical act of avoiding or removing oneself from a sinful activity. Believers are also warned in Scripture to separate from ideas. The main entry point for any new heresy is in the realm of ideas and philosophies, concepts and speculations. It is here where people take the bait and begin to embrace something new...When Dr. Ockenga called for evangelicalism to “engage itself in the theological dialogue of the day” he placed an emphasis on the word “dialogue.” “Dialogue” is the mingling of ideas – a mixing of truth with error – i.e., integration."The occult practices that the Old Testament warned about are now widely popular in American mainstream culture. Believers should beware of the enticing nature of these beliefs and practices. Many pagan doctrines have been dressed up in new garb. They enter in through alternative medicine, meditative prayer practices, spiritual and physical “disciplines,” art and music, mysticism, imagination, science fiction, astrology, yoga, and many other unusual ways.‎"These pagan doctrines are also coming in via neoevangelicalism's mainstream, a far more subtle and dangerous method of “infiltration.” Why? Because this comes via respected leaders who count on their stellar reputation to gain entry into your trust....Believers are particularly vulnerable to the seduction of heresy when it comes from esteemed, respected or well-liked Christian leaders."
~ Herescope

Please go to the article to see the entire treatment of this issue and the plethora of Scripture to support the doctrine of separation both in the Old and New Testaments. Its worth the time.

About Me

My name is Denise. I grew up in the Charismatic movement, but God delivered me out of it, and I thank Him for that. My heart is to show other believers the error of various movements(WOF, NAR, Seeker Friendly, Reformed theology/New Calvinism).I want to help them find truth through Scripture. I love the Word of God and hold it dear to my heart. It is the standard by which I filter everything, including doctrine & politics, including my own thoughts and actions. Ps 138:2
There is One God, and within the One God there are three distinct, co-equal and co-eternal persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit(1Peter 1:2; Matt. 28:19; Matt. 3:16-17; John 14:16-17). Literal 6 day Creation is Truth.Scripture is infallible, inerrant, & God-breathed (2Tim. 3:16, Heb.4:12, Ps. 19 & 119). Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone for the glory of God alone apart from any works (baptism, prayers, walking an aisle, etc.) so that no one can boast (Eph. 2:8-10). God is totally Sovereign in ALL things (Ps 33). I do mean ALL. Man is responsible for his sin. God is responsible for saving the elect through HIS means.